Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
by Robin McKinley
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
obstinant women, fairy-tale reconstructionists
I just finished reading this book. Apparently a semester of dealing with politics and classics brings out the hard-core romantic in me, because I've been barreling through idyllic fantasy novels as if I were 13 years old.
That said, I have trouble thinking of another fantasy novel I would rather have read. Robin McKinley once again takes an old, archetypal fairytale (Beauty & the Beast, in case the title and the large rose on the cover didn't clobber you with recognition) -- and turns ...more
That said, I have trouble thinking of another fantasy novel I would rather have read. Robin McKinley once again takes an old, archetypal fairytale (Beauty & the Beast, in case the title and the large rose on the cover didn't clobber you with recognition) -- and turns ...more
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Beauty is a remarkable achievement. It is exactly what it professes to be, a retelling of the traditional story of Beauty and the Beast, playing fair and straight, with no labouring to update or displace or play clever narrative tricks with the familiar version, and not the slightest effort to politicize or moralize it, except that particular stress is laid on the power of love to transform not only the Beast but Beauty herself. Yet the result is a full-scale novel, told in sophisticated, gracef...more
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Read in June, 2008
This modern fantasy book was good and fulfilling because it had the ending we all want- happily ever after. But the only other thing I had to compare it to was the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast and for me, the Disney version was much more exciting. It seemed like more things happened in the Disney version and that she really had to grow to love the beast, like when she runs out and the beast has to rescue her from a pack of wolves. That did not happen in the book. The beast in the b...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
fairy tale fans, romance fans
Beauty is a retelling of the classic fairytale "Beauty and the Beast." I have a mixed review. McKinley took added a wealth of details to flesh out the story, but didn't add any of the little twists that I have enjoyed so much in other fairy tale retellings.
Donna Jo Napoli's stories are my favorites because she'll change one or two seemingly insignificant details or tell the story from another character's perspective. By doing this, the reader comes away with a new understandin...more
Donna Jo Napoli's stories are my favorites because she'll change one or two seemingly insignificant details or tell the story from another character's perspective. By doing this, the reader comes away with a new understandin...more
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Read in January, 1991
recommends it for:
smart girls who like fantasy
I love this book. I love how Beauty starts out as a sallow bookworm nicknamed Beauty (I think her actual name is Honour), who grows into a graceful and truly honorable young woman. I thought it was a nice touch that her sisters aren't horrible, but are lovely and kind, with distinct personalities. You really care about the whole family here, and can understand how big a sacrifice it was for Beauty to leave them to live with the Beast.
And of course, I love the idea of a library that holds book...more
And of course, I love the idea of a library that holds book...more
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Read in October, 2007
This is a quick read - young adult fiction. There were elements of this story (a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast) that had the potential to be really cool, but the author concentrated on the clothes and hair and food instead of the magic. I'm all for detail, but come on! The main character was labeled "plain" from the beginning and her sisters were beautiful. Of course in the end the plain one becomes pretty and the Beast is also pretty and TA DA all is right with the world. Bo...more
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Read in October, 2007
I have read several versions of beauty and the beast, and I must say that this is the best version I have read that was written in the past 100 years. It is so close to the original text, but with so much more detail and more imagination that it brings the book to life. And I loved that it was written in from the perspective of Beauty. Robin McKinley has also written another version of the same story, but I believe its in the third person. I cannot wait to read 'rose daughter' and 'spindles end'...more
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June 3, 2008: My book club decided to read this book this month. I'm excited to get to read it again. I buy this book periodically, and I always end up giving it away, so, once again, I have it on order at my local Borders Bookstore. I should buy it in bulk so I always have copies on hand to give away.
2007: I fell madly in love with the Beast, as we all did when we read this book. I was actually disappointed when he was a prince again, since he was such a charming and delightful Beast. ...more
2007: I fell madly in love with the Beast, as we all did when we read this book. I was actually disappointed when he was a prince again, since he was such a charming and delightful Beast. ...more
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Read in September, 2007
I loved this book. I loved the descriptions, loved the voice of the main character and the subtle humor. It caught me in the first paragraph, taking about a five-year-old's view of names as simply meaning "you-come-here," and held me so thoroughly I begrudged my toddler's hunger pains because I had to set the book down. My sole comment is that the resolution seemed too hurried. I didn't necessarily need it to be a longer resolution or any different plot wise, just narrated slightly...more
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This is the first book I ever stayed up all night to finish. We lived in our first house in American Fork at the time so I had to have been 10 or 11. It was a school night, and I was only going to get a start on it before bed, but before I knew it, I was closing the book with a sigh of satisfaction, and it was time to get up and get ready for school. I recommend this book to everyone. It's clever and witty, Beauty is easy to relate to and feel for, and even though you know the ending since i...more
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Read in June, 2008
This is an enjoyable young adult read. Beauty has always been my favorite fairy tale character. McKinley's Beauty doesn't disappoint. She is strong willed, smart, and is fiercely loyal to those she loves. The Beast was likable enough. But I wanted to feel them fall in love with each other. He loved her from the beginning (or needed to love her) without even really knowing her. I think I would have liked it more if their relationship would have been the focal point of the story (instead of...more
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Read in April, 2008
I was expecting something more than just a bit of fleshing out of the characters and events -- something more like Sheri Tepper's book of the same title, or Tanith Lee's Red as Blood, or other reimagined fairy tales. But that is probably more my fault than the book's! ;)
That aside, I definitely enjoyed this pleasant retelling of the classic tale, and suggested it to my younger daughter. The characters are believable, which is quite a feat for a classic tale most commonly peopled by ca...more
That aside, I definitely enjoyed this pleasant retelling of the classic tale, and suggested it to my younger daughter. The characters are believable, which is quite a feat for a classic tale most commonly peopled by ca...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2008
I really liked this little book. It was a fast read that captured my imagination. I loved the personality of the main character---she made me laugh. This book had a strong Jane Austin vibe for me, right down to the hurried, unsatisfying ending. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Jane Austin, but in my opinion she has a tendancy to to create characters you adore, and then tie up their stories too fast, and without enough of a pay off for me. This book did that, but I forgave it. :) I think it would make ...more
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Read in March, 2008
Again I wish that I could give this another 1/2 star...I did like it enough to finish it, but while there was a lot of set up, (you don't see the beast untill half way through the book!) it seemed like there wasn't enough time spent in the actual story and the ending felt a bit rushed. I still had questions at the end! But I did like the characters (you get to know Beauty's family) and the way the enchanted castle is presented...I wonder if disney used some of these ideas about the castle for ...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Alison by:
Caisarecommends it for: late grade school and up
I enjoyed this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I found myself comparing it to Disney's version to see what I liked better or worse. I honestly can't say I like one more than the other although there are several differences. I enjoyed how the book develops her relationship with her family with much more depth and portrays the goodness of her sisters who both choose true love over wealth. Some characters are different such as the absence of Disney's annoying Gaston. I didn't miss him and th...more
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Read in September, 2006
Beauty is not as pretty as her older sisters-- the name is ironic. She is gangly and awkward, but smart and quick-witted. Her father becomes financially ruined and the family must relocate to a small cottage in the northern countryside. There, in the forest abutting their lands is the Beast's castle. Beauty trades herself for her father because really, she doesn't have that much else to do. You know the story. McKinley writes beautifully and adds several layers of complexity and makes it much mo...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Helen by:
Caisarecommends it for: any female
Like Cynthia, I think that I would give this book 4.5 stars. It was very sweet and satisfying. In some ways the main character, Beauty, reminds me of Bella in the Twilight books. I don't suppose that's much of a coincidence. :)
This book has a few different themes that I liked: 1) Beauty is first manifested within, and is hollow/false without that inner manifestation.
2) Loyalty to family, and realizing that family is the most important thing there is.
3) Love unselfishly given can c...more
This book has a few different themes that I liked: 1) Beauty is first manifested within, and is hollow/false without that inner manifestation.
2) Loyalty to family, and realizing that family is the most important thing there is.
3) Love unselfishly given can c...more
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Okay, this book was INCREDIBLE! I loved it SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO STINKIN much!!! (Granted, the first 50 pages or so were pretty hard to wade through... And I thought the ending was a little anti-climatic, but w/e, it was still worth it!!)
Man, my problem with reading is that I CAN'T just read a chapter a day or during breakfast or anything - I HAVE to read the WHOLE book in one sitting! AAARG! (so, yeah, summer and breaks should be my only reading time, otherwise I shirk my homework!!)
B...more
Man, my problem with reading is that I CAN'T just read a chapter a day or during breakfast or anything - I HAVE to read the WHOLE book in one sitting! AAARG! (so, yeah, summer and breaks should be my only reading time, otherwise I shirk my homework!!)
B...more
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Read in August, 2007
I really liked this book. Beauty isn't actually beautiful, but she is smart and loves to read. She loves her father so much, she would sacrifice herself for him.
Another thing I loved about this book was how kind the beast was to beauty. He never raised his voice or threatened her. Sure, he asked her ever night if she would marry him, and, after she said no, he would be sad, but never angry. He din't have a temper. Or, if he did have a temper, he kept it under control.
I guess I'm just a suck...more
Another thing I loved about this book was how kind the beast was to beauty. He never raised his voice or threatened her. Sure, he asked her ever night if she would marry him, and, after she said no, he would be sad, but never angry. He din't have a temper. Or, if he did have a temper, he kept it under control.
I guess I'm just a suck...more
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Read in March, 2008
Retellings of the Beauty & the Beast story tend to be my fictional weakness--I'll ALWAYS read one if I find it, and I'll almost always love it unreservedly. This one, however, it a particular gem. It has all the classic fairytale elements you expect with just enough changed to keep it interesting and original. And even when you know how it's going to end, you can't help but want to know how the author and her characters are going to take you there. One of my favorite retellings, actually, on...more
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